Velocipede



J. F. JONES.

VELOCIPEDE.

APPLICATION FILED 001. I. 1911.

1,890,294. PatentedSept. 13,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

* a El MK J. F. JONES.

VELOCIPEDE.

APPLICATION FILED 0on1. 1917.

PatentedSept. 13, 1921.

' 2ESHEETS-$HEET 2.

JOSEPH F. JONES; OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS.

VELOCIPEDE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentfitl Sfiiiit. 13, llg li.

Application filed October 1, 1917. Serial No. 194,111.

T 0 all w 7mm it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JosnPr-I F. Jones, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Grange, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pleasure vehiales, and more particularly is concerned with velocipedes of that type in which pro-,

pulsion is effected by contact of the riders feet with the surface over whichthe device is moved.

Vehicles such as above mentioned are mostly used by small children. The lines of those commonly employed present minimum symmetry, and their construction is such as to admit of little ornamentation. The present invention, therefore, has as its primary object the provision of a vehicle of the character defined embodying such structural features as will render the same readily susceptible to simulation of submarine boats, aeroplanes, animals, etc., the invention contemplating the use of a main supporting member to which may be fitted a body capable of being shaped to the configuration desired and readily applied to such supporting member.

A further object of the invention is the coordination and association of the parts in such manner that this assemblage may be accomplished most expeditiously and by which the necessity for highly finishing the parts, in the main, may be wholly eliminated.

Further, the invention also seeks topro vide a pleasure vehicle of the nature indi.- cated which may be easily constructed so that the same may be marketed at nominal expense to be within the reach of the users of this class of vehicles.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the improvement is better understood, the invention consists substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a velocipede constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, as on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of another form of the main supporting member;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the construction illustrated in Fig. l;

Figs. 6 and 7 are top plan'and side elevational views of a further form of main supporting member;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the construction illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 and one type of axle supports associated therewith when this form of supporting member is adapted for a two-wheel vehicle; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8. Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, the numeral 10, designates the main supporting member of the herein described vehicle. This'may be formed of any suitable material, but is preferably cut from a wooden boardof the desired dimensions and thickness. As this member. is entirely concealed from view, as hereinafter specified, it need not be highly finished, but may be used in its rough state. At the forward end of the member 10 is a head block 11, and a tail block 12 is likewise arranged atthe rear end of said member 10, thcsaid blocks 11 and 12 extending in transverse relation to the member 10 and being suitably secured to the ends thereof, as by nails or similar fastenings. provided with laterally extending brace blocks 13 and 1 1, which blocks are arranged at opposite sides of said member 10, and for convenience of their application to the member 10 the blocks 13 and 14- are arranged preferably in offset relation, as clearly seen in Fig. 1.

As before stated, the present invention has in contemplation such a structure that will readily adapt itself to the simulation of ya rious articles or objects, such as submarine boats, aeroplanes, etc, and it will therefore be understood that the shape of the free edges of the head and tail blocks 11 and 1.2

and the brace blocks 13 and, 14 may be formed to the configuration which it is desired to impart to the finished body portion of the vehicle. After this shaping has been efi'ected said supporting element is covered with a sheathing 15 of suitable material, preferably tin or some other material which may be readily shaped to the desired configuration, and at the same time will afiord the necessary strength and rigidity to support the child using the velocipede. As indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the sheathing 15 has its ends tapered for simulating a submarine boat,

and said sheathing is suitably attached to the head and tail blocks 11 and 12 and the brace blocks 13 and 1 1, by means of nails, screws or similar fastenings. That the proper symmetry may be given to the body the sheathing 15 is extended a suitable distance beyond the head and tail blocks 11 and 12, the body being closed at these extended portions by terminalplateslfi and 17. Obviously, however, the supporting member may be extended to the terminal plates 16 and 17.

To render more realistic the simulation of a submarine vessel an imitation propeller 13 may be applied to the rear terminal plate 17, or in the event that the structure simulates an aeroplane the propeller may be applied at the front.

It is proposed that in the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the vehicle shall be of the three-wheel type, and to provide for the support of the rear end thereof a transverse bolster 19 is arranged at the exterior of the sheathing 15 in alinement with and suitably fastened to the tail block 12 in any appropriate manner. The bolster 19 affords provision for journaling a pair of bearing wheels 20 to the rear end of the device.

At the forward end of the vehicle is located a steering wheel 21, said wheel being journaled in a fork 22 carried by a steering column 23. The steering-column 23 extends upwardly through the sheathing 15 and terminates at a point thereabove in handle 21 extending transversely of the structure, and said steering column 23. is connected to the head block 11 by means of a plurality of eyes 25 which receive saidsteering column and which are, in turn, received by the head block 11. The steering column 23 is thus free to rotate with respect to said head block 11, thereby enabling the steering wheel 21 to be turned at various angles to the body, and thus permitting the vehicle to be readily steered.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is illustrated another form of'the supporting member. In the main, it is similar to the structures disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in that it includes a centrally disposed longitudinal element 10 with the transversely extending brace blocks 13 and 1 1. At the forward end of the ele ment 10, however, is arranged a pair of parallel spaced forwardly extending guide blocks 26, which constitute a steering head,

and arranged between said guide members- 26 and spaced from the end of the member 10 is a spacer block 27, thuspproviding a channel 28; in which is fitted the steering column 23 of the steering wheel. A head block 29 is connected to the guide members 26, and a tail block 30 is likewise connected to the rear end of the member 10, supplemental brace blocks 31 and 32 being interposed between the brace blocks 13 and 14 and the tail block 30.

It will. be observed from the disclosure of Fig. 4 that the head block 29 and the tail block 30 are arranged at the extremities of the entire body portion, the sheathing terminating at these blocks.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a further form of the main supporting member. This includes a pair of parallel longitudinally extending elements 33 which are spaced apart by suitable blocks 31, one ofwhich is arranged each extremity of the members 33, while others are arranged at suitable intervals throughout the length thereof, a pair of these blocks 35 being located adjacent to the forward ends of the members 33 to provide a channel 36 for receiving the steering column. Obviously, the blocks 34: are held in position between the members 33 by suitable means, such as nails, screws, or the like, and a plurality of outwardly extending brace blocks 37 are also arranged on said longitudinal elements 33 at suitable intervals,

whereby to provide for the proper support of the sheathing when the same is placed upon the members 33.

If the form illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is designed for use with a three-wheeled vehicle a bolster 38 is provided, which bolster is suitably connected to certain of the brace blocks 37 as the bolster 19 is connected to the tail block 12 of the form shown in Figs; 1, 2 and 3. If, however, the support of Figs. 6 and 7 is to be employed inatwo wheel vehicle a pair of pendant axle-supporting plates 39 are suitably connected to the elements 33, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the rear wheel thereby being journaled between these plates and being permitted to rotate between the spaced elements 33. For, the reception of the axle each of the plates 39'is perforated, as at 40, in which perforations the axle may be secured by any suitable means. In lieu of the pendant plates 39 the members 33 may be provided with alined openings 11 (see Figs. 6 and 7) at the proper points, and the axle of the rear wheel mounted in said openings.

It will be apparent that the structure of supporting ele-mcntdisclosed in Figs. 6 and 7, by reason of the two longitudinal elements 33, is a stronger structure than the supporting members illustrated in the other figures.

In the use of the herein described velocipede the child will straddle the sheathing 15 and propel the device by contact of the feet with the ground, in the usual manner of propulsion of vehicles of this sort, and if. it is desired that the child shall occupy a seat, a suitable seatstructure may be applied to the sheathing after the latter has been fitted to the supporting member.

lPhe velocipede also may be propelled by means other than contact of the riders feet with the ground, in which event a crankshaft 42 provided with pedals 4:8 for its operation and likewise with a sprocket wheel 4A- be used. This crank-shaft can be applied directly to the members 33, or supported by pendant plates, similar to the plates 39, carried by said members. From the sprocket wheel 44 power will be transmitted to the rear axle mounted in the plates 39 or openings 41 by the usual type of sprocket chain.

While the form of sheathing is illustrated as intended to simulate the hull of a submarine boat, it is also obvious that the sheathing may be shaped to simulate other objects, such as an aeroplane, animals, and the like.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a velocipede, the combination with a centrally-disposed supporting member, of a plurality of bracing extensions arranged at opposite faces thereof and spaced at intervals throughout the length of the supporting member, and a sheathing surrounding said member and braced with respect thereto by said extensions.

2. In a velocipede, the combination with a supporting member, of bracing extensions carried by said supporting member and spaced at intervals throughout the length thereof, a sheathing surrounding said member and braced with respect thereto by said extensions, a steering column associated with said member and extending above and below the sheathing, and a bolster arranged atthe exterior of said sheathin 3. In a velocipede, the combination with a supporting member, of head and tail blocks arranged at the forward and rear ends respectively of said member and ex tending transversely thereof, bracing ex tensions carried by said supporting member intermediate said head and tail blocks and arranged at opposite sides of said supporting member, a sheathing surrounding said member and supported in braced relation thereto by said head and tail blocks and said extensions, a steering column associated with said member and extending above and be low the sheathing, and a bolster arranged at the exterior of said sheathing. I

I. In a velocipede, the combination with a supporting member, of head and tail blocks arranged at the forward and rear ends respectively of said member and ex tending transversely thereof, bracing extensions carried by said supporting member intermediate said head and tail blocks and arranged at opposite sides of said support ing member, a sheathing surrounding said member and supported in braced relation thereto by said head and tail blocks and said extensions, a steering column mounted .on said head block and extending above and below the sheathing, and a bolster arranged at the exterior of said sheathing in alinement with said tail block.

5. In a velocipede, the combination with a supporting member, of head and tail blocks arranged at the forward and rear ends respectively of said member and extending transversely thereof, bracing exten sions carried by said supporting member intermediate said head and tail blocks, a sheathing surrounding said member and supported in braced relation thereto by said head and tail blocks and said extensions, a steering column associated with said mem her and extending above and below the sheathing, and a bolster arranged transversely of the structure in alinement with said tail block,

6. In a velocipede, the combination with a supporting member, of head and tail blocks arranged at the forward and rear ends respectively of said member and extending transversely thereof, bracing extensions carried by said supporting member intermediate said head and tail blocks, a sheathing surrounding said member and supported in braced relation thereto by said head and tail blocks and said extensions, a plurality of eyes carried by the head block, a steering column journaled in the eyes and extending above and below the sheathing, and a bolster arranged transversely of the structure in alinement with said tail block.

7. A velocipede comprising a frame havinga longitudinally extending body memher and a plurality of bracing extensions extending late'ally therefrom at opposite sides, a sheathing inclosing said frame and conforming to the lateral contour of the bracing extensions, said sheathing affording a seat, and wheels connected to the frame to form a running gear.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

JOSEPH F. JONES. Witnesses HUGO ERNST, Jr, Crnumns ERNT, Jr. 

